Summary

The Infection Preventionist (IP) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities to improve patient and organizational outcomes. The IP is responsible for providing expert - evidence-based infection control practices. The IP establishes surveillance indicators and conducts monitoring to identify and reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients - employees - visitors - and students.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13095262
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: Masters prepared Registered Nurse Certification in Infection Control (CIC) and expertise in infection prevention - control - and healthcare epidemiology
• Experience with data analytics
• Experience leading collaborative projects and leading interdisciplinary team/network
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to maintain effective working relationships across the healthcare system
• Demonstrate ability in program development - oversight - and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ability to communicate policies - goals - and complex data clearly and concisely in both written and verbal formats
• Ability to collaborate effectively and use group processes to identify - analyze and resolve problems
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position involves considerable standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting and turning
• The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs
• Requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective care
• Requires the individual to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients
• Requires the individual to travel in an automobile for several hours at a time.

Duties

• A Career at VA Salt Lake City Health Care System Major Duties: Surveils for hospital acquired infections using National Healthcare Safety Network definitions
• Implements the multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO)Prevention Initiative
• Identifies and investigates all potential outbreaks of infection
• Develops measures for prevention and control of infections using the interdisciplinary approach
• Provides in-service education related to infection control to care teams
• Performs of environmental studies as necessary to investigate epidemics - augment educational efforts - and monitor sterilization activities
• Reviews and revises as necessary - Infection Prevention and Control policies in conjunction with individual care teams
• Serves as consultants to the Occupational Health Program and care teams
• Serves as liaison to Sterile Processing Service to assist in compliance with reusable medical equipment (RME) requirements Collaborates with Engineering and Facilities Management on Legionella and construction related dust abatement
• Serves as liaison to local health departments in reporting communicable diseases and consulting on issues related to community health
• Reviews requirements by the Joint Commission - Occupational Safety and Health - Office of Inspector General and other external surveying bodies and advising the VASLCHCS in meeting those requirements
• Reviews the Infection Prevention and Control Programs - for the hospital - home care and behavioral health - annually
• Recommends new or revised practices or procedures based on currently accepted - evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies
• Reviews - analyzes - and applies pertinent information from current scientific literature and publications
• Recognizes populations who are at high risk for infection - utilizes the principles of human growth and development to assess patient's requirements relative to age specific needs
• Applies epidemiological principles and statistical methods - including risk stratification - to identify target populations - analyzes trends and risk factors - and designs and evaluates prevention and control strategies
• Uses appropriate statistical techniques to describe the data - calculate rates - and critically evaluate significance of findings
• Develops the organization's surveillance plan based on the population(s) served - services provided - and previous surveillance data - if available
• Uses standardized definitions for the identification and classification of events - indicators - or outcomes
• Analyzes data utilizing internal and external (if appropriate) benchmarks
• Reports epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate parties in a timely manner
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the surveillance plan annually
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: M-F 0730-1600 (tour maybe adjusted based on needs) Telework: This position is authorized for telework-situational (ad-hoc) AND has not been authorized as remote
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized